Page 124 of Enchanted Heir
He kissed my lips again. “I’m sorry being in my Assemblage has been so complex.” He smirked. “I was always drawn to you, but then we made things even more complex when the ruse turned real. I’ve always known what the threat of being with you poses. Misery for you and a reason for me to delay and possibly not be as resolved to end my father. But the reality of its beauty is far outweighing even the greatest risk.”
I grabbed him by the shirt to bring him back to me, our eyes inches apart. “This is still where I wish to be, Krew. I may be quarreling with destiny, but I have no regrets.”
He moved to kiss me, but I shoved him off. “No. I know that look. You are about to kiss me for hours and hours. And normally, I’d be all for it. But we have to sleep, Krew. We both need it after the events of the last few days and with a ball tomorrow.”
“Spoilsport.” He shot me a look that normally would’ve worked.
I squinted. “Bed, now.”
His eyebrows went up. “You don’t think I won’t kiss you in bed?”
I tipped my head back to the ceiling. “Krewww.”
He sent me a smile that stunned me. “Is now a poor time to mention that my father’s men stopped randomly checking in to see if we were together weeks ago? I had just gotten rather used to sleeping next to you.”
My mouth fell open. “Krew!” I honestly hadn’t given any thought to when they stopped coming.
He reached to cup my cheek. “I am sorry too though, love. I shouldn’t have pushed you and should’ve given you more time. I’m not a very patient man.” He paused. “I watched you shut down for only a few days, but I still couldn’t handle it. You’ve been such a light to this castle, seeing your flame flicker for even a day had me unsettled.” He kissed my temple as he headed to change. “However warranted the reasons for it.”
CHAPTER31
It snowed in the night, so Owen and I were doing our training in the castle, though this old room was growing on me. We were trying to lighten this empty portion of the castle with a little laughter from the women and some good old fashioned sword play. Of course it had nothing to do with a moment I had with Krew in this room. Nothing at all.
“You,” Owen said as he swung his wooden sword at my neck, “are distracted this morning.”
I squealed as I narrowly missed his move. “Yes, Owen. Yes, I am.”
“Well stop it,” he commanded.
I blocked his next move at my legs. “Seriously? After last night? And after Easton earlier in the week? And you want me to just shut it all off?” Feeling extra annoyed with him this morning, I spun around and smacked him with my sword in the arm.
“Did you just—” he shook his head as if shocked. “Did you justadvance me?”
I winced. “Sorry.”
Owen grinned. “All right, Princess. Let’s go.”
I knew from the look on his face that I was in for it. I already regretted that life choice.
Minutes later, the door opened, likely saving my life as Owen had kicked up the intensity of training. But he had been right, it was nice to focus on my breathing and my body and let the rest of it fade away. It had just taken getting my face almost smashed by a sword to get to that point.
“Hey,” Owen called with his back to the door as he slashed his sword upward at me.
I tightened my core and tucked it in, sliding away and then blocking his sword when it came at my feet shortly thereafter, one of Owen’s favorite tricks. “How’d you know it was Krew?” I asked, breathing heavily.
“He’s the only one other than Keir who knows we’re here,” Owen said as he squinted at me.
“I need to borrow Jorah for a moment,” Krew admitted, tucking his hands into his pockets.
“All right,” Owen panted, “Good. I could use a shower.” He reached his wooden sword back toward Krew. “Want this?”
Krew’s magic flared, which Owen couldn’t see with his back to Krew. “No.”
Owen shrugged. “She’s much better. Whines less than some of the men I’ve trained.”
I had my eyes on Krew, wondering what that had been about. “A compliment, Owen? Is the sky falling?”
He shrugged. “Well, it is snowing, so kind of, yes.”
